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India

Industry sees only troubles, no gains from China FTA
22-Mar-2008
The government has been urged to adopt a cautious stand on free trade agreement (FTAs), especially in the case of countries like China, and discourage export of raw materials. Import duties should come down gradually under such pacts and India Inc should be enabled to face global competition, says a study by industry chamber Assocham. While acknowledging that India cannot shy away from globalisation, the government has been asked to beef up infrastructure and provide a favourable exchange rate mechanism to ensure a level playing field.
Trade with Malaysia: List of high-growth products ready
20-Mar-2008
As trade negotiations between India and Malaysia on a Comprehensive Economic Co-operation Agreement (CECA) progress, Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) has identified several products which have high export potential to Malaysia. The list includes auto components and parts, iron and steel and related products, textiles, electrical and mechanical machinery and their spares.
India-Asean FTA hinges on Indonesia, market access
20-Mar-2008
The India-Asean free trade agreement (FTA) seems to have come within clinching distance, though the month-end deadline for concluding the negotiations will not be met. In the recent high-level officials meeting in Cambodia, the Indian side managed to make the Asean members happy with their side of offers. The Asean countries, especially Indonesia, however, have to come up with some more concessions to seal the deal.
Turkey offers FTA with India
19-Mar-2008
Turkey has offered to have a free trade agreement (FTA) with India and wants to boost its exports of food products, textiles, plastics, chemicals, machinery and construction materials.
Free trade talks with EU lose pace
16-Mar-2008 Telegraph
India and the European Union (EU) will have to give the December deadline for their free trade agreement a miss if differences persist over the negative list and non-tariff barriers to trade.
"Investment barriers must go"
15-Mar-2008
The Third Ministerial meeting of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation Free Trade Agreement (SAPTA) hosted by India on March 3, 2008 in New Delhi, saw India pruning its "Negative List" from 744 items to around 500, for the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) of the South Asian region such as Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Maldives. Budget 2008-09
Govt seeks inputs from industry for Japan CEPA
12-Mar-2008 Economic Times
The Indian government has asked industry to come up with an ‘offensive’ list of items of export interest to India in the Japanese market.
Brussels seeks greater power in foreign deals
12-Mar-2008 FT
The European Commission is seeking to take more power into its hands to strike deals to protect European companies investing abroad, a role traditionally undertaken by the European Union’s member states.
RBI objects to bilateral trade agreements
11-Mar-2008 Business Standard
After political opposition to bilateral trade agreements, it is now the Reserve Bank of India that is raising the red flag on treaties signed by India.
Supachai: ‘An India-China FTA will be better than an India-US FTA’
10-Mar-2008 Financial Express
Interview with the UN Conference on Trade & Development’s secretary-general, and former WTO chief, Supachai Panitchpakdi.
Pawar urges SAARC countries to strengthen SAFTA
5-Mar-2008
Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar on Wednesday urged the SAARC countries to strengthen the regional trade and pointed out that the region does not correspond to the so-called natural trading partner hypothesis and "SAFTA’s economic relevance is being questioned".
India looks to new Govt. in Pak to implement SAFTA
4-Mar-2008
India on Monday exuded confidence that the new government in Islamabad will take immediate steps to implement the South Asian Free Trade Agreement with New Delhi and take necessary measures, including duty changes, to facilitate trade.
EU won’t push India on FTA
4-Mar-2008
Brussels, March 3. The European Commission will not rush the talks with Delhi for a free-trade agreement even though India’s proposed FTA with Japan could happen sooner and affect the European Union member-countries’ presence in the Indian market.
EU-India FTA hits roadblock
4-Mar-2008 The Hindu
The prospects of free trade agreement between the European Union and India being wrapped up by the 2008-end deadline look very bleak with sharp differences having arisen over various issues — intellectual property rights, competition, agriculture, public procurement, market access and transparency.
India acts to encourage free trade in South Asia
4-Mar-2008 Mangalorean
In a bid to accelerate the South Asian Free Trade Agreement (Safta), India will let 244 additional items to be freely traded with least developed countries in the region.
Private sector for India-US investment treaty by year-end
28-Feb-2008 Mangalorean
The US-India Private Sector Advisory Group has asked the two governments to negotiate a bilateral investment treaty by end of 2008 while continuing to promote sectoral openings.
US, India consider negotiating investment pact
23-Feb-2008
The United States and India are discussing whether to negotiate a bilateral investment agreement as part of ongoing efforts to expand and deepen economic ties, a US official said on Friday.
India, South Africa to discuss free trade pact
21-Feb-2008 AFP
The quest for a free trade pact would be high on the agenda this week of high-level talks between South Africa and India in Pretoria, a government official said Thursday.
No free trade pact with India for now: US
20-Feb-2008 Thaindian News
It is “premature” for the US to consider a free trade agreement with India, United States Trade Representative Susan C. Schwab said Wednesday
Bangladesh: FTA offers little benefits to weaker economies
19-Feb-2008 The Independent Bangladesh
"There is no compelling case for an FTA with India" warns Dr Hamid Rashid, director general of the Bangladesh ministry of foreign affairs